Anti-holdup device for counters

ABSTRACT

An anti-holdup device for a counter which comprises a backing plate mountable upon the rear wall thereof supporting a pair of upright guide tubes in which normally retracted elevator rods are nested. A shield is secured to the rods and normally positioned below the top of the counter. A detent releasable weight is guideably mounted in elevated position for movement between said tubes; and cables at their one ends are secured to said weight, extend around a pair of pulleys, and at their other ends respectively are connected to said elevator rods. The shield includes a pair of hinged wings normally held in alignment with the shield body by a panel, and spring biased to pivot at right angles thereto when elevated past the panel.

i SR Pervolarakis 1 Mar. 27, 1973 [54] ANTI-HOLDUP DEVICE FOR 486,942 11/1953 ltaly ..109/17 COUNTERS Primary Examiner-Dennis L. Taylor [76] Inventor: Themis Pervolarakis, 17710 Mcln- An0mey R0benA S10maneta] tyre, Detroit, Mich. 48219 22 Filed: Dec. 9, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT An anti-holdup device for a counter which comprises [21] Appl' 206336 a backing plate mountable upon the rear wall thereof supporting a pair of upright guide tubes in which nor- [52] U.S. C1 ..109/17, 109/11 m lly retracted elevator rods are nested- A hield is [51] Int. Cl ..E05g 3/00 Secured to F rods and normally Positioned below the [58] Field of Search ..109/10-21, 21.5, t0P the A deter releasable weight is 109/85 guideably mounted in elevated position for movement between said tubes; and cables at their one ends are secured to said wei t, extend around a air of pul- [56] References C'ted leys, and at their tlher ends respectively are con- UNITED STATES'PATENTS nected to said elevator rods. The shield includes a pair of hinged wings normally held in alignment with the 630,509 8/1899 Jacobson ..109/17 shield body by a panel, and spring biased to pivot at 1,682,881 9/1928 Beaudry right angles thereto when elevated past the panel. 2,284,261 5/1942 Chlopecky ..109/17 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 2/1925 France 109/17 7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented March 27, 1973 3,722,432

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented March 27; 1973 3,722,432

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 93 [T1 n h rr=n H S/SSITI l Z3 27 27 FIG?) 5.?- ;5 I/ I) logo 29 I 1222.3 59 1 I 37 l 1 I Iogo 3 II II II U M49 Ill] Illm I I {"43 l I I I l I I I I I ANTI-HOLDUP DEVICE FOR COUNTERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Heretofore many efforts have been made to protect the counter clerk against holdups by the provision of bars and cages and other safety mechanisms which are adapted to move under power into clerk protective position. The objection to most of these devices has been the fact that the mechanism involved was complicated and costly, required the use of power and was capable of malfunction and unreliable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved anti-holdup device for counters and for protecting the clerk behind the counter and wherein ,the protective shield normally maintained in an upright position in back of the counter and which upon activation of a manual detent to be caused to elevate instantly in front of the clerk merely by the falling of a weight.

It is another object to provide an improved and simplified anti-holdup device wherein the normally retracted shield includes a front wall and a pair of side wings hinged thereto which are normally coplanar with the front wall, but which on elevation of the shield automatically rotate so as to extend rearwardly of the front wall of the shield at right angles thereto to protectively enclose the clerk.

It is another object to provide an improved and simplified construction which, as a unit, can be adapted to the rear wall of any counter and which merely requires a slight pressure on a push button detent for releasing a weight which controls instantaneous elevation of the protective shield.

These and other objects will be seen from the following specification and claims in conjunction with the ap-' pended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of a counter and its back wall with the present anti-holdup device mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the same direction of the anti-holdup device with the shield elevated;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the anti-holdup device with the rear panel removed for clarity;

FIG. 4 is a plan view thereof showing the rear panel;

FIG. 5 is a plan section taken in the direction of arrows 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken in the direction of arrow 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section taken in the direction of arrow 77 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It will be understood that the above drawing illustrates merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and that other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the claims hereafter set forth.

Referring to the drawings in FIG. 1 there is shown a rear perspective view of any counter 11 having an upright back wall to which the present anti-holdup device generally indicated at 13 is applied and suitably secured.

The anti-holdup device includes an upright backing plate 15 suitably secured to the back wall of the counter. Upright shield retainer panel 17 is spaced rearwardly of backing plate 15 with spacers l9 interposed, FIG. 6, and secured thereto by fasteners 21.

The normally retracted clerk protective shield 23, FIG. 2, includes front wall 25 and at its opposite ends a pair of side wings 27 hinged thereto at 29.

Compression springs 31 are respectively interposed between each wing and the front wall 25 normally urging the wings 27 when elevated above the panel 17 to the right angular position shown in FIG. 2.

The wings, 27 are coplanar with the front wall 25 of the shield when the shield is in the retracted position shown in FIG. 1, being retained by the panel 17.

A combination telescoping guide and stop is provided to include the tube guides 33 pivoted or hinged at 35 to the front wall 25 and at their free ends slidably receiving the telescoping rods 37, respectively, which are pivoted at 39 to the corresponding wing 27. Telescoping tube and rod construction thus limits automatic spring biased pivotal movements of the wings 27 to the right angular position shown in FIG. 2 when the shield has been elevated in the manner hereafter described.

A pair of upright, parallel spaced guide tubes 41 are mounted upon and spaced rearwardly of backing plate 15, being anchored at their ends at 45 and 47. Each guide tube includes in its inner wall an elongated slot 43.

Within each tube is a normally retracted elevator rod 49. Mounted and secured upon the upper ends of the elevator rods as at 51 is the central front wall 25 of the shield 23 so arranged that in the retracted position shown in FIG. 3, the upper edge of the shield with the front wall and wings 27 coplanar is below the top of the counter and rests upon the spaced stops 53.

Guide rollers 55 are journaled upon horizontal axes within the respective clevis 57 adjacent opposite sides of panel 17 retainingly engaging the side wings 27 of the shield and facilitating upward movements thereof when the anti-holdup device is activated.

A pair of parallel spaced guide rods 59 or guide means are arranged between the tubes 41 and are secured at their respective opposite ends at 61 and 63 within the respective spacers 19, FIG. 3.

Horizontally elongated weight 65, rectangular in cross section has a pair of upright bores 67 adapted to loosely receive the guide rods 59 and at its opposite upper ends includes a pair of brackets 69.

A pair of cables 71 at their one ends are anchored to brackets 69, extend around the pulleys 73 journaled upon the studs 75 and at their other ends extend downwardly and are anchored at 79 to lower end portions of the elevator rods 49, extending through the guide tube side slots 43.

Suitable spacers 77, FIG. 7, locate the pulleys 73 outwardly of backing plate 15. And the bifurcated stirrup 81 extends centrally above weight 65 and mounts a horizontally disposed roller 83 between the free ends spaced above said weight.

The detent 85 slidably positioned within detent guide 87 and is biased by spring 89 to the forward position shown in FIG. 6 so as to underlie and supportably engage roller 83 in turn retaining the weight 65 in its elevated position upon its guide rods 59. The shank 91 of guide 87 extends through backing plate and is suitably secured thereto.

Spaced above the detent 85 and parallel thereto is the forwardly extending push rod 93 movably positioned within the apertured guide 95 interposed between plate 15 and panel 17 and includes push button 97 at its free end spaced outwardly of said panel.

The rear end of said push rod extends at right angles thereto and is connected to the detent as by fastener 99 with a suitable compression spring 103 interposed between the detent guide shank and the end portion of said push rod.

An apertured push button shield 101 is mounted upon panel 17, FIGS. 6 and 7 and loosely surrounds a push button 97 protected against accidental dislodgment or pressing.

The cam surface 109 is provided at the forward lower edge of detent 85 so that upon upward manual projection of the weight 65 from the dotted line position shown in FIG. 3 to the holding and elevated position of FIG. 6, the detent is momentarily cammed inwardly by the roller 83 and due to its spring bias 89 returns to the roller and weight engaging position shown in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of stop rings 105 are secured to the guide rods 59 and compression springs 107 surround said guide rods and are interposed in compression between the stop rings and the upper surface of the weight 65.

This is for the purpose of overcoming inertia when the weight has been released and to give the weight an initial acceleration for downward movement when the detent assembly has been pressed inwardly by push button 97.

While the push rod 93 and push button 97 have been described as connected to the detent, the assembled relationship may be referred to as a spring biased detent assembly and wherein the detent 85 normally biased outwardly so as to be in weight supporting position engaging the roller 83 ready for use.

OPERATION In the event of a holdup or likely holdup, the clerk behind the counter merely touches the button 97 moving the same inwardly slightly disengaging the detent from the weight, and with the small assist of the compression springs 107 weight 65 is adapted to immediately move downwardly by gravity.

The virtue of the connection of the weight to the respective cables 71 there is a corresponding simultaneous raising of the elevator rods 49 with the shield 23 from the coplanar arrangement FIG. 1 to the automatic protective arrangement shown in FIG. 2, wherein, just as soon as the shield 23 clears the top edge of the guide panel 17, due to the springs 31, 'side wings 27 automatically move to the right angular position shown to protectively enclose the clerk on at least 3 sides.

Having described my invention, reference should now be had to the following claims.

I claim:

1. An anti-holdup device for a counter having a back wall comprising an upright backing plate mounted on said wall;

a pair of spaced upright guide tubes mounted upon and spaced forwardly of said plate;

an elevator rod normally nested in retracted lower most position in each tube;

an upright retractable shield mounted upon upper end portions of said rods, positioned when retracted so that its upper edge is disposed behind and below said counter;

an upright guide means between said tubes and parallel thereto;

a normally elevated weight slidably mounted upon said guide means;

a push button operated spring biased detent guideably mounted on said backing plate supportably engaging said weight;

and manually retractable to release said weight;

a pair of laterally spaced pulleys journaled upon said plate;

and a cable extended around each pulley respectively, with one end connected to said weight and its other end connected to lower end portions of a corresponding elevator rod, whereby on inward projection of said detent, disengaging said weight, the latter instantly falls by gravity, said elevator rods simultaneously moving upwardly to elevate said shield to extend protectively above said counter.

2. In the anti-holdup device of claim 1, a cocking spring anchored on said guide means compressively engaging said weight when elevated.

3. In the anti-holdup device of claim 1, an elevated shield retainer panel spaced rearwardly of and secured to said backing plate;

said detent extending through said panel;

and roller means journaled on the inner surface of said panel guideably engaging said shield.

4. In the anti-holdup device of claim 3, said shield including an upright front wall supported on said elevator rods, and a pair of spaced upright side wings hinged to the opposite side edges of said front wall upon vertical axes;

and coplanar with said front wall when retracted and guideably retained by said panel;

and tension spring means respectively interconnecting each wing with said front wall adapted when said shield is elevated to bias said wings to extend at right angles to said front wall, said shield adapted to protectively enclose a clerk behind said counter.

5. In the anti-holdup device of claim 4, telescoping guide and stop means for each wing, at one end pivoted thereto and at its other end pivotally connnected to said front wall, for limiting opening movements of said wings relative to said front wall.

6. In the anti-holdup device of claim 1, said detent having a cam surface at its free end;

a stirrup on and extending above said weight;

a horizontally disposed roller on said stirrup supportably engaged by said detent;

said detent on manual retraction riding under said roller releasing said weight;

manual upward return of said weight causing said roller to cam against said detent momentarily retracting the same for interlock therewith.

7; In the anti-holdup device of claim 3, an apertured shield mounted on said panel and protectively receiving a button on said detentQ 

1. An anti-holdup device for a counter having a back wall comprising an upright backing plate mounted on said wall; a pair of spaced upright guide tubes mounted upon and spaced forwardly of said plate; an elevator rod normally nested in retracted lower most position in each tube; an upright retractable shield mounted upon upper end portions of said rods, positioned when retracted so that its upper edge is disposed behind and below said counter; an upright guide means between said tubes and parallel thereto; a normally elevated weight slidably mounted upon said guide means; a push button operated spring biased detent guideably mounted on said backing plate supportably engaging said weight; and manually retractable to release said weight; a pair of laterally spaced pulleys journaled upon said plate; and a cable extended around each pulley respectively, with one end connected to said weight and its other end connected to lower end portions of a corresponding elevator rod, whereby on inward projection of said detent, disengaging said weight, the latter instantly falls by gravity, said elevator rods simultaneously moving upwardly to elevate said shield to extend protectively above said counter.
 2. In the anti-holdup device of claim 1, a cocking spring anchored on said guide means compressively engaging said weight when elevated.
 3. In the anti-holdup device of claim 1, an elevated shield retainer panel spaced rearwardly of and secured to said backing plate; said detent extending through said panel; and roller means journaled on the inner surface of said panel guideably engaging said shield.
 4. In the anti-holdup device of claim 3, said shield including an upright front wall supported on said elevator rods, and a pair of spaced upright side wings hinged to the opposite side edges of said front wall upon vertical axes; and coplanar with said front wall when retracted and guideably retained by said panel; and tension spring means respectively interconnecting each wing with said front wall adapted when said shield is elevated to bias said wings to extend at right angles to said front wall, said shield adapted to protectively enclose a clerk behind said counter.
 5. In the anti-holdup device of claim 4, telescoping guide and stop means for each wing, at one end pivoted thereto and at its other end pivotally connnected to said front wall, for limiting opening movements of said wings relative to said front wall.
 6. In the anti-holdup device of claim 1, said detent having a cam surface at its free end; a stirrup on and extending above said weight; a horizontally disposed roller on said stirrup supportably engaged by said detent; said detent on manual retraction riding under said roller releasing said weight; manual upward return of said weight causing said roller to cam against said detent momentarily retracting the same for interlock therewith.
 7. In the anti-holdup device of claim 3, an apertured shield mounted on said panel and protectively receiving a button on said detent. 